This is Feature Shelf, a series that provides book recommendations based on theme or title suggestions. This week’s shelf tackles the questions, “What about those who are left behind?” and “Why did they do it?” This is Feature Shelf #45: The Thirteen Reasons Why Edition. My name is eli, I’m also called the (book) supplier. Thanks for watching.

Last semester, one of my students read Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why and loved it. After our conversation, I thought about the people who are left behind when terrible things happen and naturally thought it’d be a good shelf for people who like to read books about dealing with the tough topic of death.

I Was Here by Gayle Forman

Cody and Meg were best friends. They shared everything, until they didn’t. Cody is devastated to find out that Meg died alone in a hotel room after having ingested a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner.  When Cody travels to Meg’s college to pack up her things, Cody finds out that there was more going on in Meg’s life than she knew.

November Blues by Sharon Draper

It’s been two months since Josh died in a hazing accident. November, his girlfriend, finds out she’s pregnant. Josh’s parents want the baby and have hired a lawyer to sue for custody. Jericho, who wants to help November, is dealing with his grief and guilt about Josh’s death. November Blues deals with what happens after – and some of the tough decisions teens have to make.

Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Throughout the course of Hold Still Caitlin deals with the loss of her friend Ingrid through the journal that Ingrid left behind. LaCour’s novel doesn’t offer any easy answers about how to grieve the loss of a friend and how to heal and continue to live.  Gayle Forman said that Hold Still “may be the truest depiction of the gaping hole left in the wake of a suicide that [she’s] ever read.” She also says that “it’s a haunting Nd hopeful book about loss, love, and redemption.” How’s that for a glowing endorsement?

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Like Cassie and Meg in I Was Here, Lia and Cassie were also best friends. They were winter girls together- friends who both struggled with anorexia. The night that Cassie died, she called Lia 33 times and Lia didn’t answer. So throughout Wintergirls Lia struggles with not only grief, but slid with being a Wintergirl – and the voice in her head trying to keep her in control.

So that’s four books you might enjoy if you’re a fan of Thirteen Reasons Why, I Was Here, November Blues, Hold Still, and Wintergirls.

I’m going to get out of here, but before I do, for the archives and show notes for the video and the podcast, which has a little more commentary, check out https://thebooksupplier.com/featureshelf. This episode’s notes contain links to resources about anorexia and suicide in addition to more info about the books. If you’d like to request your own Feature Shelf, hit me up on Facebook or Twitter, I’m @thebooksupplier in both places.

I’ll leave you there now, dear readers. Thanks for watching Feature Shelf #45: The Thirteen Reasons Why Edition. As always, I’m the (book) supplier wishing you happy reading. Don’t forget to be awesome.